Books
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Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore This week I would like to review a book I can’t stop thinking about! When Graceling was published back in 2008, it received positive reviews from book critics who praised the main character and the fantasy world the book took place in. Three more books followed, making Graceling a series. The last book was actually just published back in January. Despite the book getting rave reviews, I’ve noticed some people criticizing it for a certain decision the main character makes (a decision which I will talk about more below). A cool friend of mine gave this book to me (once again thank you RB!), and I’m really…
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The Goose Girl
Author: Shannon Hale This week I am going to review The Goose Girl, a book that I’m quite excited about! When The Goose Girl was published back in 2003, it received mostly positive reviews from book critics, though some complained about the length of the book. Three more books followed, making it a series called The Books of Bayern. An awesome friend of mine gave me this book recently (thanks again RB!), and I was quite excited to read it as I had read some of Shannon Hale’s others books before, which include The Ever After High series (books based on the Mattel doll brand that’s sadly discontinued) and Diana:…
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The Candymakers
Author: Wendy Mass This week I’m going to review a book that I really enjoyed. The Candymakers was written back in 2010 and, while I can’t seem to find any data from book critics, it seems to be well-received by audiences (at least according to most of the Goodreads reviews and to the popular author, Judy Blume, who endorsed it). So, such an endorsement should tell you something. I actually received this book as a gift from a friend of mine who is an avid reader like me (thank you RB!), and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Just a warning though: if you have a sweet…
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Inkheart
Author: Cornelia Funke This week I’m going to be reviewing a book that I really enjoyed! When Inkheart was published in 2003 (it was originally published in Germany so it didn’t reach the U.S until 2005), it was well received by book critics and was a hit with younger audiences. Two more books followed, making the series a trilogy, and the book was turned into a movie in 2008; but the movie received mixed reviews and was especially disliked by fans of the book. I’ve read the first two books in this series and have enjoyed them both; and while I have no interest in seeing the movie (since it…
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To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Author: Jenny Han This week I am going to be reviewing a book that I just finished reading and that I really enjoyed. When To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before was published, it received positive reviews and was a New York Times bestseller; two more books followed in the series, making it a trilogy, and all three of the books were turned into Netflix Original movies, which were received positively by critics and fans of the book. I enjoyed this book so much that I plan to read the other two books in the series, and I also plan to see the movies, most especially since I’m signing back…
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Drama
Author: Raina Telgemeier This week I’m reviewing the first graphic novel I’ve ever reviewed on this blog. When this graphic novel, Drama, was released in 2012, it received positive reviews and was a bestseller immediately. However, this book was banned in some libraries/schools in the U.S. due to the fact that there were a couple of gay characters in the book. While I can count on one hand the number of graphic novels I’ve read, I really enjoyed this one, most especially since it has to do with theater; it also reminds me of some of the shows I’ve been watching recently (like the High School Musical TV show on…
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The Flame of Olympus (Pegasus)
Author: Kate O’Hearn This week I’m going to review a book that I think is highly underrated, The Flame of Olympus (the first book in the Pegasus series). This book was first published in the U.K. in 2011 but it took a couple of years for it to reach the U.S; and while it’s hard to really find any data about it from book critics, it has a small fanbase and a bestselling author, Rick Riordan, endorsed it. After the first book was published, five more books followed in the series. I was a little hesitate to read this book because I hadn’t been a huge fan of myth-based books…
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Stargirl
Author: Jerry Spinelli This week I’m reviewing another book that I enjoyed. When Stargirl was released back in 2000, it received positive reviews, especially for Stargirl’s character and for the message of nonconformity; and just last year, the book was made into a movie on Disney+. The movie did fairly well and a sequel to it is in development. For many reasons, I found this book fascinating and, just to avoid confusion with my fellow superhero fans, this book has no relation whatsoever to The CW show Stargirl which is based on DC Comics (and getting completely off track, the Stargirl TV show is one that I love and I…
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Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer The book that I’m reviewing this week is one that I think is pretty cool. Cinder is actually a retelling of the fairy tale Cinderella with a sci-fi twist. When Meyer wrote it, she was inspired by a variety of fantasy/sci-fi franchises, including Sailor Moon and the TV show Firefly. When Cinder was released, it was a bestselling book and received positive reviews, most especially for its strong female characters. Meyer wrote three more books in this series, which is called The Lunar Chronicles. I really enjoyed reading this book, most especially since it reminded me of the fantasy/sci-fi shows I like to watch (like the Mandalorian);…
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Willa of the Wood
Author: Robert Beatty Most people who know Robert Beatty probably know him from the Serafina book series that he set on the Biltmore Estate in the North Carolina mountains. While I really enjoyed that book series of his, I enjoyed Willa of the Wood just as much and maybe even more. Willa of the Wood received positive reviews when it came out and was a New York Times Bestseller. There is a second book in the Willa series that was just published the beginning of May; and while I haven’t read the second book yet, I definitely plan to read it soon. I would love to hear your thoughts on…